Winter Animals

Elen is 38 and spends her days drinking in Bend, Oregon after her husband leaves her. Following an encounter with four wealthy English twenty-somethings in a bar, she is invited into their midst and joins them as they tour the world, squatting in empty houses and airbnbs to ski and foster their psuedo-socialist, psuedo-cult camaraderie.

This was such a peculiar premise that I was immediately intrigued although I did approach with a little trepidation at the risk that this might appear slightly gimmicky - I'm glad to say that it didn't and Lewis pulls the strands of this story together well enough to create something very thought-provoking and ruminative. The descriptions of the group and their language and behaviours did make me laugh out loud at points because it was so accurate in its depiction of young, wealthy posh kids. It's exactly this sense of accuracy and portrayal without immediate and explicit condemnation that makes this book work so well. Like Elen, the reader is drawn by the charisma and quirky group appeal - the outward appearance of the group and their collective desire to connect to nature, idealising a compact community unit that thrives on mutual support and utter commitment.

I appreciated the novel's quiet but clear examination of these characters and their privilege, the capacity to live out such idealism with the support of family wealth (and the reassuring knowledge that if they so desire they will be able to leave it all behind for future traditional success). Their supposed values already strike a discordant chord as the reader remembers that part of the time their lives of hedonism and natural appreciation are achieved through the exploitation of unknowing home-owners; there are moments where the group are startled out of their care-free adventures by the sharp encroaching threat of discovery.

The group's dabbling with the social philosophies of freemasonry and other similar dogma is partly serious, partly superficial, much of their allure to Elen is this strange commitment that revolves around the central ring-leader, Luka. The group's treatment of Elen and other events in the book epitomised the combination of wealth, privilege, and a selfish desire to live according to whims and beliefs that others literally cannot afford - there is a deep and chilling readiness within certain privileged people to use and discard people for their entertainment for as long as they deem it worthwhile. For Elen, this is her real life, and for the group this is a past-time that can be picked up and dropped, as easily as the people they encounter. The brief mentions of their interaction with other strangers like the Californian influencers highlights their brief but intense delight at encountering 'interesting' people, their fascination with such quaint figures almost dehumanising and condescending though subtle. Elen's despair having lost a sense of meaning to her life with practically no support network is precisely the gap that allows the group to charm her into their escapades.

I found that the last third of the novel rushed a little for me, everything leading to the finale felt like it fell into place rather hurriedly although I appreciate that this in part acts in service to the actions of the plot and the characters. When thinking about the novel a little more interrogatively I feel a slight sense that there is a little bit missing to its depth, like it's not so sure exactly what it's trying to say but I found this very entertaining nonetheless and will definitely be on the look-out for further writing from Lewis in the future.

absolutely breathtaking. ideal for anyone wondering what to turn to after reading The Secret History. I just inhaled this book in one sitting and it was flawless. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dialogue Books for this privilege.

Winter Animals revolves around Elen, a woman who lives in Oregon, and has been drinking since her husband left her.
She finds herself drawn into the world of four wealthy squatters (teenagers from England) as they invite her to join them as they visit ski resorts, squat in buildings, and dream of their “ideal future” community. The novel explores a wide range of themes - freedom, friendship, youthful idealism, as well as the complexities of friendship and love. An interesting read

★★★★☆

The NetGalley email said that this was for fans of The White Lotus and The Secret History, which if you've ever even brushed past Bookstagram is a big claim. I definitely see where they were going with that, but for me this was very Ottessa Moshfegh-esque (particularly Eileen but that might be because there was snow lol).

This follows Elen, recently abandoned by her husband, homeless and drinking, where she meets 4 privileged 20-somethings squatting at various places to go skiing. The entire book keeps you on edge, with this constant eerie quality that everything could explode at any point (which is, as claimed, very White Lotus), although is very much a "no-plot-just-vibes" kind of narrative. If you're looking for a super-twisty thriller this probably isn't it, but for anyone that wants to feel like your skin is crawling and someone is constantly watching you, then do I have a winner.

There was one chapter that shifted perspective which was a bit rogue for me, and as a self-professed plot-girlie, I do wish there was a little bit more substance to the ending, but overall it was a good read. I <3 Clover.

cw// mentions of animal abuse/hunting, alcoholism, drug use, scenes of violence

Thirtysomething-year-old Elen find herself adrift, lonely and drinking excessively, after the departure of her husband, who leaves her virtually penniless and subsequently homeless. She meets four British teenagers in a bar one day and becomes attached to the group. They travel and squat in empty buildings during the ski season and spend the majority of their days hiking up mountains and skiing back down. This is all possible by the fact that all of the teenagers come from well-off families. They live in relative comfort and without undue anxiety, despite the fact they may be discovered by the authority or owners of the properties.

Luka feels himself to be the leader of the group and endlessly spouts the beliefs and ideas of a long-dead philosopher. Due to their isolation and days skiing without seeing many people the group of five become cultish and cut-off from the outside world.

The prose is dreamlike and even the dialogue seems otherworldly. I felt that the author was probably English, since I didn’t think that Elen or other peripheral characters sounded in any way American.

I particularly enjoyed the author’s skill in describing the skiing, an activity which I’ve never undertaken but I felt immersed as Elen skis down the runs with beautiful vistas ahead of her.

As the trip continues Elen feels a growing disquiet, wondering why they would want to have her, an older woman, along with them and begins to understand that it is partly to be an observer, but perhaps there is something dark which has happened, hiding in plain sight? Is there more than unhindered pleasure and exploration to their endless travelling? Are they exploring, or running away?

Like other readers I also feel the ending is rather abrupt. The tone definitely changes, but I think you realise throughout the story that all good things must come to an end…

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. I hope it does well.

This was a book that I couldn’t help but read in one sitting — once I picked it up it was genuinely impossible to put down. The prose was beautiful and perfect for the tone of the story, the characters were complex and well-rounded, and the setting was crisp and immersive.

Fabulous loved every minute of it, can’t wait to recommend it. Stories like this are truly remarkable and debuts like this are ones to treasure. Definitely an author to watch for, and follow.

A great book, privilege and someone down on her luck. A well plotted story that kept me turning pages.
Loved the style of writing and the storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved everything about this novel. The narrative was so well written and immersive. The prose was beautiful.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.